Disco de Cocteau Twins: “Twinlights”

The "Twinlights" EP is one of two experimental EPs released shortly before MILK AND KISSES. The other EP was "Otherness," which featured four ambient remixes by Mark Clifford of Seefeel. The "Twinlights" EP includes four tracks given a acoustic treatment.

First up is an acoustic and slow version of "Rilkean Heart," which was found eventually on M&K. Liz's voice is brought to the forefront and the production really shows off her sweeping vocals, which were buried on the K&K version.

"Golden-Vein" is a short b-side from MILK AND KISSES which is so short, in fact, that there isn't much to say about it. It sounds a little like "Rilkean Heart"

The third track is an acoustic version of "Pink Orange Red" which, after listening to the original, loud, and drummy version (on 1984's "Tiny Dynamite" EP), sounds shy and subtle. Even though a quiet background piano is the only thing besides Liz Fraser's voice, her lyrics are still as incomprehensible as ever.

Last is the acoustic (and music video) version of "Half-Gifts." This version is excellent, involving strings and piano behind Liz's emotional vocals. It is much better than the poor version on MILK AND KISSES, which featured a rather silly-sounding calliope.

My only complaint about the "Twinlights" EP is that after all of the Cocteau Twins' earlier work, full of wailing vocals and dreamy, atmospheric guitar, these acoustic treatments may seem a little sterile. Nonetheless, this is indeed superior to MILK AND KISSES, at least.

This is really quite lovely...the brevity of an EP with the lasting pleasure of a full album.

For my money, the most outstanding track here is the subtle, stripped-down version of PINK ORANGE RED. Although I'm also fond of the epic, Morriconesque original, it was one of those many Cocteaus tracks that can now sound a little dated and 80s and drum-heavy. A whole album of stripped-down, unplugged versions of some of the best of the band's older tracks (including the under-rated SHE WILL DESTROY YOU from MOON & MELODIES) would have been nice. Five stars, anyhow.

yes, this is mellow and really close to ambient new age stuff...and i know it turned alot of fans away from this band; but these songs are so good and performed so well...it will melt your heart. the etheral edge is stripped away and all that's left is the beauty of these songs in their pale naked glory. so so lovely.

Having completely fallen in love with Milk & Kisses, and been slightly disappointed by other Cocteau Twins purchases (Four-Calendar Cafe and Victorialand), since they are significantly different, i purchased Twinlights in the hope that the extra tracks would provide new and delightful songs similar to the Milk & Kisses contents. Instead, Twinlights has four songs, done almost entirely in just vocals and piano. They are quite lovely indeed, definitely pleasant to listen to, but they are not like the songs on Milk & Kisses. I do not regret purchasing this EP in any was, but i wish i could get ahold of more songs like the album versions of Tishbite and Rilkean Heart.